Sitting by the window, James looked out at the ocean, holding a glass of whiskey, enjoying the luxury he would have never imagined he would. Although being on the private jet made him touch wealth he could never have conceived, he couldn't help but feel out of place. Through the door, he could see Xavier and his people running through the plan on how to deal with the Children of the First, with Xavier constantly taking different phone calls.
It was one more, a different side to Xavier that he had never seen. A moment where there was no manipulation or arrogance, as if everything was in the palm of his hand, but a cold politician preparing himself for the worst and coordinating tens of people at once.
'His ability alone couldn't have let him gain so much power in New Horizon.' James could only sigh and admire the sight, realising it was the basics of what someone required if they wished to lead any organisation.
'Is this how they all work. The Gentleman, Samuel.' James thoughts paused as he looked to the ground, 'I'm outmatched. So focused on one thing, and these people coordinate hundreds alongside their own schemes.' James bitterly smiled and took a sip of his drink. Xavier looked to him, smiled, and hung up his call, walking over.
"Forgive me for this." Xavier said, taking a seat before him, "I just needed to clear up a few things with the people we will meet."
"It's fine." James waved his hand and looked out the window. "What's the game plan for me?" Xavier took a deep breath and sighed.
"I angered a few of the others in New Horizon to get the location of the meeting. I guess I didn't tell you." Xavier said to himself, "We're landing in the Children's home ground, it's the only place they would keep part of the key."
James tensed slightly and took a sip of his drink to calm himself, "The Church of the Martyred." Xavier nodded. Thinking of the landmark, considered a wonder of the world, he couldn't help but feel nervous. Even Xavier seemed to be, his voice a rare seriousness.
"We're lucky they agreed, but I framed it as a show of humility and submission. New Horizon may lose some standing worldwide, but it doesn't matter." Xavier said with a deep voice.
"Your vision." James said, "Is it able to see it, or do they have something blocking it?" Xavier smiled and looked out the window.
"Thankfully, I had the vial the ISD gave me. Although my vision of it is unclear, I can now see something where as before it was completely blocked. Best-case scenario, it's an artefact focused on concealment alone. In the worst case, they have some with an ability related to Time. If they do, we are in danger no matter how we proceed."
James nodded and thought about it for a second. Something clicked in his mind when he looked towards Xavier, "You have partial vision. If that's the case, the places your eyes can't see will be where they keep their most valuable things. Surely this narrows it down."
Xavier proudly smiled, looking at James, "You catch on. But it's not so simple. Under normal circumstances, that is how it works. But this is the Children's Holiset Ground. It is similar to me trying to perceive the Home of Liberty. I can't be sure what is actually true, or if there's a hidden location that I would never know." Compared to the presidential building in their homeland, James clearly understood.
"You have a guess where to start at least. I will do this for you, Xavier, but I need something. One wrong move and everything is over."
"Let us land first and see if my vision clears up when I am closer." James nodded, understanding. Thinking of their plan, he thought of his wall.
"What are the chances that the leader of that group is here?" James asked, thinking of the main question mark. Xavier let out a deep exhale and tapped his temple.
"In my personal opinion, near certain." James looked at Xavier in shock, his voice shaking slightly. He wondered why he was nervous but understood instantly. Xavier was a man who wished to know everything and valued his ability to eventually do so. Yet somehow, someone had avoided him for an untold number of years. For James, it was normal, but for someone who could look through time, it must have been an uneasy feeling.
"Why are you certain?" James asked, wondering where his confidence came from. Xavier grabbed the end of the table before taking a glass and pouring himself a drink. Swolling half, he let himself relax and return to his usual calmness.
"Because there have been too many coincidences so far. Something, likely the world itself, is forcing all of us to clash over the Zoktis. It just wouldn't make sense to me if they didn't show up. It's like a book. You can't write a story with a protagonist and an antagonist without the two eventually meeting. You have to build it up, and let the two sides clash every now and then, or else it doesn't make sense when you get to the end."
Xavier cooly said and took another sip of his drink, "So what, we're following a script?" James asked, looking at Xavier strangely. For a man who could see the future, he would have never expected such a thought process. It made more sense to James if Xavier said he was the one writing the script. Xavier chuckled, seeing James' thoughts.
"How else would you describe fate? Sure, I can change the journey, but at the end of the day, it is already set in stone. There are those who can break their fates, but to do that, you must grasp godhood." Xavier hand-tightened around his glass. "It's disgusting, isn't it?" There was venom in his tone.
James looked at him and took a deep breath, "I always wondered. Can you see when you will die?" Xavier laughed, his previous anger washed away in an instant.
"Yes. I am human right now. I am fated to die. However, I have avoided it on numerous occasions." Xavier's smile widened, "This is how I know, I can avoid it altogether if I get what I want. The reason I believe I can't see myself at the end goal I aim for is that I am not strong enough to perceive the future of a man who attained Godhood and broke fate."
James looked at him and chuckled, "If anyone heard how you spoke about these things, they would think you're insane." Xavier chuckled and shrugged.
"They can think what they want." James didn't know how to reply. Staring at Xavier, he thought about his way of describing fate. To him, it made no sense, especially with Xavier's ability. If he could see the future and had actively changed it before, how could there be something else, as he put it, writing the script?
James didn't doubt fate was real. If abilities that control things like luck exist, then fate must be a real, tangible thing. Afterall, to him, luck was an extension of fate. But it wasn't the thing that controlled everyone's lives. No, for him, it was what brought people together but also took them apart. Not in a forceful way, but a slow, methodical push and pull that could be avoided if someone wished to.
James shook his head. Things like fate and how it worked didn't matter. If the world or fate were deciding that he would meet the people he was chasing, then he would take it as him doing his job correctly and getting closer to the truth.